Immune mediated glomerulonephritis (immune GN) – a literature review

Abstract

The kidney is often the target of many aggressions of extra-renal origin. Its structure and function make it vulnerable and part-taking to the pathological changes than develop inside the living organism. The increased blood presure inside the glomerular capillaries, its purpose in ultrafiltration and the negatively charged glycoproteins from the structure of the glomerular filtration barrier participate in increasing the sensitivity to the toxic action of exogenous or endogenous circulating substances. Based on their pathogenesis, immune mediated glomerulonephritis may be divided into two categories: 1. glomerulonephritis caused by immune complexes deposited inside the glomerulus; 2. glomerulonephritis caused by anti-basal membrane antibodies.